Patent US2361973A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3433784A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5437288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible catheter guidewire
Assignee: Mayo Clinic in Florida
•
Filing: 1992-09-04
•
Granted: 1995-08-01
•
Expires: 2012-09-04
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for use as a catheter guidewire and a method for making a catheter guidewire. The apparatus comprises an elongate non-coiled wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip and a flexible portion located between the proximal portion and the distal tip having axially spaced grooves cut therein. The method for making the guidewire includes burnishing one end of a wire to create a rounded distal tip and cutting a predetermined pattern of axially spaced grooves in a length of wire adjacent to the distal tip to create a flexible portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Schwartz
- 👤 David Berry
- 👤 Frederick S. Halverson
- 👤 James V. Donadio, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09058; A61M2025/09075; A61M2025/09133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising: a metal wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip and a flexible portion therebetween, the flexible portion having a plurality of grooves formed in the metal wire so as to provide a desired flexibility, the grooves increasing in depth toward the distal tip to create a generally tapered core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising: a metal wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip and a flexible portion therebetween, the flexible portion having a plurality of grooves formed in the metal wire so as to provide a desired flexibility, the grooves increasing in depth toward the distal tip to create a generally tapered core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the metal wire is made of nitinol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the core of the flexible portion has a continuously sloped taper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the guidewire further comprises a polymer coating over the metal wire to increase the mobility of the guidewire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A guidewire according to claim 4, wherein the guidewire further comprises an outer hydrogel coating over the polymer coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the guidewire includes a central axis and the plurality of grooves comprise non-circumferential axially spaced grooves formed generally perpendicular to the central axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A guidewire according to claim 6, wherein adjacent non-circumferential axially spaced grooves are offset by an angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the guidewire further comprises a tapered portion between the proximal and flexible portions having a decreasing diameter toward the flexible portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the distal tip is plated with a radiopaque material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising: a. a continuous metal wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip having a rounded end and a flexible portion generally located between the proximal portion and distal tip, the flexible portion having axially spaced grooves formed in the metal wire that are arranged and configured to create a core in the flexible portion that tapers inward toward the distal tip; and b. coating means to increase the mobility of the guidewire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising: a. a continuous metal wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip having a rounded end and a flexible portion generally located between the proximal portion and distal tip, the flexible portion having axially spaced grooves formed in the metal wire that are arranged and configured to create a core in the flexible portion that tapers inward toward the distal tip; and b. coating means to increase the mobility of the guidewire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A guidewire according to claim 10, wherein the coating means is a polymer coating applied to the guidewire which is covered with a hydrogel coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for making a guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising the steps of: a. providing a metal wire having a distal tip; b. cutting a plurality of axially spaced grooves in the metal wire along a length of the wire adjacent the distal tip; and c. increasing the depth of the grooves toward the distal tip to create a flexible portion of the distal end of the guidewire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for making a guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising the steps of: a. providing a metal wire having a distal tip; b. cutting a plurality of axially spaced grooves in the metal wire along a length of the wire adjacent the distal tip; and c. increasing the depth of the grooves toward the distal tip to create a flexible portion of the distal end of the guidewire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process for making a guidewire according to claim 12, wherein the grooves are cut using an electrostatic discharge machining tool.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process for making a guidewire according to claim 12, wherein the length of the flexible portion having the axially spaced grooves is between 5 and 30 cm and the width and spacing of the axially spaced grooves is about between 5-10 mils.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for making a guidewire according to claim 12, wherein the grooves are cut to be non-circumferential with adjacent grooves offset by an angle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for making a guidewire according to claim 12, wherein the process further comprises the step of grinding the flexible portion to create a flexible portion with a diameter less than a diameter of a proximal portion; and grinding a tapered portion between the flexible portion and the proximal portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for making a guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous metal wire having a distal tip; b. burnishing the distal tip to a rounded shape; c. cutting a predetermined pattern of axially spaced grooves in the metal wire along a predetermined length of the wire adjacent to the distal tip to create a flexible portion of the distal end of the guidewire; d. coating the guidewire with a polymer to increase the mobility of the guidewire; and e. plating the distal tip with a radiopaque material to enable the guidewire to be viewed on an x-ray.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
A process for making a guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous metal wire having a distal tip; b. burnishing the distal tip to a rounded shape; c. cutting a predetermined pattern of axially spaced grooves in the metal wire along a predetermined length of the wire adjacent to the distal tip to create a flexible portion of the distal end of the guidewire; d. coating the guidewire with a polymer to increase the mobility of the guidewire; and e. plating the distal tip with a radiopaque material to enable the guidewire to be viewed on an x-ray.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for making a guidewire according to claim 17, wherein the guidewire is coated by dipping the guidewire in a liquid polymer to create a plastic jacket over the guidewire; and then dipping the guidewire with the plastic jacket into a hydrogel solution to form an outer coating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guidewire according to claim 6, wherein the length of the flexible portion is between 15-30 cm and the width and spacing of the axially spaced grooves are about between 5-10 mils.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of grooves comprise a continuous helical groove along the flexible portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A guidewire according to claim 12, wherein the grooves are cut with a laser.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A guidewire according to claim 12, wherein the process further comprises the step of burnishing the distal tip of the metal wire so that it is rounded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4925445A
Cited
US4719924A
Cited
US4763647A
Cited
US5133364A
Cited
US5069226A
Cited
US5003989A
Cited
US5047018A
Cited
DE4104092A1
Cited
US5095915A
Cited
WO1991015152A1
Cited
WO1992019151A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |